Sifter top for powder cans



R. W. RINGENBERG SIFTER TOP FOR POWDER CANS Man [10, .1931.

Filed Dec. 6, 1927 $5 1 aum vwento'c W Izzy/Q Patented Mar. 10, 1931 jUN rsn-.;srATss PATENT OFFICE RUDOLPH 'RINGENBERG; fOF WATERBURY, "CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOER. TO SOOVIILTL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, CONNECTICUT 0F WATERBUR'Y, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF SIFTER TOP FOR POWDER cans Application filed December 6, 1927. Serial No. 238,031.

This invention relates to certain improvements in sifter tops forpowder cans and the like. 7

In packaging certain toilet powders, as for instance stearate of zinc, it is necessary that the sitter top used for dispensing such powder should be so constructed that it will automatically close and will remain closed when not in use. It is further desirable in this class of tops that the parts should be few in number, and so arranged that they can be quickly assembled, as such tops to be commercially practical must be very cheaply produced.

7 It is the special object of the present invention to produce a sifter top which will automatically close when not in use, and which shall be of cheap construction, in addition to being substantially proof against powder leakage.

' A further object of the present invention is to produce such a construction in which the controlling means for the dispensing orifices may be manipulated with one hand, and whichshall be of neat and attractive appearance.

With these and other objects not specifically referred to in view, the invention consists in certain novel parts, arrangements and combinations which will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and thenovel features pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed.

, In these drawings,,

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, showing the improved Sifter top with the dispensing orifices closed;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the orifices open, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the operating-parts of the top, the view being taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring now to these drawings, the improved sifter top is shown as employed with a metal container in the form of an oval or ellipticaltin can, but it will be understood that the top, as to certain of its features, may be used with other containers and with containers of any desired or suitable shape, and the invention is not therefore to be restricted to the particular container shown.

.8 andris provided centrally ticular an container such as 1 used, the :neck 2 can form a part 01 'the sitter device. It will be understood, however, that if desired the sitter, device may be made entirely separate and assembled with containers other than meta'l containers, as, for instance, aglass ar, but such a cnstruction is not illustrated, as unnecessary for an understanding of the invention. The neck 2 is formed, :in the :particular construction illustrated, with a top orifices 4. The top 3 of theneck is formed with a depression 5 to receive a controller ,plate '6,=of light vmetal,.a nd a spring member 7. 'The controller 6 is in the form ofa thin metal plate having distributing openings '8, and the spring 7 and thecontroller plate (5 arc-of a thickness to just fill the depression, which is closed by a cap the wall 1'0 of: which is spun or bent against :the all of the neck 2-so as to have a close friction fit and "effectually prevent leakage of powder therebet-ween'. The controller plate 6 is held so us-to :ha-ve frictional engagement with the top '3 and with the under *side of the cap 9, and this cap 9 is provided. with powder apertures, indicated at 11, this arrangement of the pants preventing leakage of powder until the controller plate is manipulated to bring the dispensing orifices of all three parts into alignment.

l-n accordaa-ice with the invcntioi-L means are provided torso manipulating the plate, and :these :n'iea-ns will be such that the plate will be returnedto closed position and held closed position when the can is not being used. Furthermore, these manipulating means will preterably .be such that they can be operated :with one hand. XVhile --tihe parement of the parts may be somewhat vaned, this movement of the plate is eli'ectedb-y a rotary movement, and the rotary movement of the plate is such as to .put the spring under tension, spring return- :ing the :plate to normal or non-dispensing pomt ion when the spring is released F r with dispensing I r iii) pl-icity of Construction, the spring is also formed with a handle, by which the parts are manipulated, and the movement or the handle effects the rotation of the plate." In the construction shown, therefore, the plate 6 is injetlect acain plate and is provided with a nose 12which engages in a notch'l in one arm lei of a forked sprin the other arm b7 ofwhich engages the plateon thes de opposite the notch. ,The arms of this" spring are" joined together to form an operating'handle 16 which projects through a guide slot 17 formed in the wall of the cap 9,,before referred to.

1 6 toward the'leit, as shown in Figure 1, vthe plate 6 will be rotated in a clockwise direction in the cap piece.

it will be seen that by pushing the handle and the arms of the spring will be put under tension. lVhen now pressure is released on the handle 16, the spring will contract and alIl-OIIIZLtiCiLllY rotate the plate in a counterclockwise direction. and Iclose'the distributing orifices. The plate is held-in position in any suitable manner, as on a pivot 18' formed only parts necessary for the-operation ofthe device is the cam platefG, the-spring and the pivot 18 for the plate- Thusa very simple and economical structure has been provided plate on release of the pusher.-

a spring armhaving a notch engaged by -the projection, a second spring arm engaging the plate on the opposite side of the arms, and a pusher having a straight line movement connected with one of the arms for rotating the plate, the other arm acting to return the In testimony whereof, I have my ha (1 hereunto set RUDOLPH W. RINGENBERG. 1

-It'will be observed that the one which is practically leak-proof h in non-use, and one which can be readily and cheaply assembled.

- While the invention has-been describedin its preferred form, it will be understood that hers provided with distributing orifices, a rotary cam plate between the members pro-.

'vided' with distributingorifices, 'a spring means'engaging" the plateon opposite sides, 7 r and a pusher having a straight line movement I V v connected with a spring and acting to rotate 1 certain changes andvariations maybe made in the form and arrangement ef-the various parts without departing from the invention 4 as defined in theappended claims.

Y WVhatIclaimis: 1. In a'sifter top, upper and lower memthe'pl'ate to dispensing position, the spring returning the plate to closing po iti on on the release of the pusher.

2. In a sitter top, upper and lower Incin- 'b p vided with distributing'orifices, a. depressionin oneofthe melnbers, a; rotary cam plate pivotedin the depression and having distributing'orifices, aspring yoke'engagi ingthe' plate on opposite sides, andfa pusher havinga straight linemovement connected with the spring and-acting to rotate" the plate'to dispensing position, the spring rej turning the plate to closing position'on the I Q 'release'of the pusheragy T 3. In a 'sifter top, upper and lower members I provided'with distributing orifices, a depres-' I siOn inon'e ofthemembers, a rotary cam-plate confined'in the depressionand having dis tributing orifices, a "projection on the plate, 

